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Meetings slated on state regulation of animal feed

BISMARCK –The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) has scheduled a series of public meetings in January to collect comments and suggestions regarding state regulation of animal feed.

“We want to hear from the stakeholders – the feed manufacturers, commodity processors, livestock and pet food dealers and commercial feed customers – about changes they want in the feed law,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The department is now reviewing the feed regulatory program to determine if it meets the needs of today’s industry and consumers.”

The meetings are from 1 to 4 p.m. local time. Dates and locations include:

Thursday, Jan. 12 – North Dakota State University Research Center, 1089 State Ave Dickinson

Tuesday, Jan. 17 – Eagles Club, 345 12th Ave NE, Valley City

“The department is exploring regulatory changes that ensure the health and safety of livestock, pets and animal-derived foods for people,” Goehring said. “Specifically, we are looking at the equitability of licensing requirements, the adequacy of the sampling programs and the effect of labeling standards on interstate shipment. Most importantly, we must ensure that our program is in alignment with the new Food Safety Modernization Act.”

State law (North Dakota Century Code §19-13.1) authorizes the agriculture commissioner to enforce state laws regarding the registration, content and labeling of commercial feeds, including pet foods, and the licensing of feed manufacturers and dealers.

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MEDIA: For more information, please contact Michelle Mielke at (701) 328-2233 or mmielke@nd.gov.